Sino-Vietnam war hero to get top PLA post

BEIJING — A veteran of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese war is expected to take a key vice-chairman role on China’s powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), said sources.

General Li Zuocheng (picture), the 64-year-old commanding officer of the ground force of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), will fill the vacancy left by CMC vice-chairman General Xu Qiliang, several military sources told the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Gen Xu is likely to take over as CMC first vice-chairman, said the sources. Incumbent General Fan Changlong, 70, is expected to retire from that position next month.

Gen Li, 64, a Hunan native, was decorated by the CMC as a war hero during China’s conflict with Vietnam in 1979 and awarded a “first-class merit” for his personal achievements. His combat company also won a collective order of merit.

When Gen Li was promoted to division commander in 1994, his unit was awarded a second-class merit for their part in a flood-relief mission in Guangxi.

Four years later, Gen Li — who was by then the 41st Army Corps commander — led his force to fight devastating floods that hit 24 provinces across China. The floods lasted two months and affected 220 million people. It also claimed more than 3,000 lives.

A retired senior colonel based in Beijing told SCMP that Gen Li’s nomination for the job would pave the way for the upcoming leadership reshuffle at the party’s national Congress.

“Li is the most experienced general — he has taken part in real battles and disaster-relief missions. This means that he meets all the requirements for President Xi Jinping’s call to build up a combat-ready fighting force,” added the retired officer.

The promotion would be a “breakthrough” in terms of the make-up of the CMC, said a military source, because Gen Li is not one of the existing 10 military members of the committee. Mr Xi, who is also chairman of the CMC, is its sole civilian member.

“There are medium- and long-term political considerations behind Li’s nomination — it’s a sign that promotion within the PLA will now be based on achievements and experience rather than connections and background,” said the source.

Gen Li has been regarded as one of Mr Xi’s hand-picked rising military stars since 2013, when he was named head of the former Chengdu Military Region. Gen Li was promoted to full general in 2015.

The president appreciates Gen Li’s “clean background”, said another source. “Li was promoted as commander of the new ground force early this year mainly because of his stable background,” added the source.

“Xi once said there are three kinds of people who could not be nominated to lead the ground force: The offspring of senior officials, their sons-in-law, and personal aides to military officials. He believes the PLA needs capable leaders to rise from the grass roots.” SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST